Diagnose and fix common Apollo.io API errors. Use when encountering Apollo API errors, debugging integration issues, or troubleshooting failed requests. Trigger with phrases like "apollo error", "apollo api error", "debug apollo", "apollo 401", "apollo 429", "apollo troubleshoot".
npxskills add jeremylongshore/claude-code-plugins-plus-skills--skill apollo-common-errorsLoading…
Comprehensive guide to diagnosing and fixing Apollo.io API errors. Apollo uses x-api-key header authentication and the base URL https://api.apollo.io/api/v1/. Apollo distinguishes between master and standard API keys — many endpoints require master keys.
// src/apollo/error-handler.ts
import { AxiosError } from 'axios';
type ErrorCategory = 'auth' | 'permission' | 'rate_limit' | 'validation' | 'server' | 'network';
function categorizeError(err: AxiosError): ErrorCategory {
if (!err.response) return 'network';
switch (err.response.status) {
case 401: return 'auth';
case 403: return 'permission';
case 429: return 'rate_limit';
case 400: case 422: return 'validation';
default: return err.response.status >= 500 ? 'server' : 'validation';
}
}
// Most common cause: missing x-api-key header or wrong key format
async function diagnoseAuth() {
try {
const response = await fetch('https://api.apollo.io/api/v1/auth/health', {
headers: { 'x-api-key': process.env.APOLLO_API_KEY! },
});
const data = await response.json();
if (data.is_logged_in) {
console.log('API key is valid');
} else {
console.error('API key is invalid or expired');
console.error(' Generate a new one at: Apollo > Settings > Integrations > API Keys');
}
} catch (err: any) {
console.error('Cannot reach Apollo API:', err.message);
}
}
Common 401 causes:
api_key query parameter instead of x-api-key headerecho -n "$APOLLO_API_KEY" | wc -c)Standard API key: search + enrichment only
Master API key: full access (contacts, sequences, deals, tasks)
Endpoints that require a master key:
POST /contacts (create/update)POST /emailer_campaigns/search (sequences)POST /emailer_campaigns/{id}/add_contact_idsPOST /opportunities (deals)POST /tasks (tasks)DELETE /contacts/{id}// Diagnose: test a master-key-only endpoint
async function diagnoseMasterKey() {
try {
await client.post('/contacts/search', { per_page: 1 });
console.log('Master API key confirmed');
} catch (err: any) {
if (err.response?.status === 403) {
console.error('Your API key is a standard key. Master key required.');
console.error(' Go to Apollo > Settings > Integrations > API Keys');
console.error(' Generate a new key with "Master Key" type');
}
}
}
Apollo uses fixed-window rate limiting per endpoint category:
Endpoint Category | Limit | Window | Burst
--------------------------+------------+---------+------
People Search | 100/min | 1 min | 10/sec
People Enrichment | 100/min | 1 min | 10/sec
Bulk People Enrichment | 10/min | 1 min | 2/sec
Organization Enrichment | 100/min | 1 min | 10/sec
Contacts (CRUD) | 100/min | 1 min | 10/sec
Sequences | 100/min | 1 min | 10/sec
// Respect Retry-After header
async function handleRateLimit<T>(fn: () => Promise<T>): Promise<T> {
try {
return await fn();
} catch (err: any) {
if (err.response?.status === 429) {
const retryAfter = parseInt(err.response.headers['retry-after'] ?? '60', 10);
console.warn(`Rate limited. Waiting ${retryAfter}s...`);
await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, retryAfter * 1000));
return fn();
}
throw err;
}
}
// Common 422 causes:
// - per_page > 100 on search endpoints
// - Missing required fields on /contacts POST (first_name, last_name)
// - Invalid email format on /people/match
// - page > 500 on /mixed_people/api_search (50,000 record limit)
function logValidationError(err: AxiosError) {
const body = err.response?.data as any;
console.error('Validation error:', {
status: err.response?.status,
message: body?.message ?? body?.error,
errors: body?.errors,
url: err.config?.url,
body: typeof err.config?.data === 'string' ? JSON.parse(err.config.data) : err.config?.data,
});
}
// src/apollo/error-middleware.ts
import { AxiosError, AxiosInstance } from 'axios';
export function attachErrorHandler(client: AxiosInstance) {
client.interceptors.response.use(
(response) => response,
(err: AxiosError) => {
const status = err.response?.status;
const body = err.response?.data as any;
const endpoint = err.config?.url ?? 'unknown';
const info = {
status,
endpoint,
message: body?.message ?? err.message,
timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
};
switch (categorizeError(err)) {
case 'auth':
console.error('[APOLLO AUTH] Invalid x-api-key header', info);
break;
case 'permission':
console.error('[APOLLO PERMISSION] Master key required for this endpoint', info);
break;
case 'rate_limit':
console.warn('[APOLLO RATE LIMIT]', info);
break;
case 'validation':
console.error('[APOLLO VALIDATION]', info);
break;
case 'server':
console.error('[APOLLO SERVER] Check status.apollo.io', info);
break;
case 'network':
console.error('[APOLLO NETWORK] Cannot reach api.apollo.io', info);
break;
}
return Promise.reject(err);
},
);
}
| Code | Meaning | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| 401 | Invalid or missing x-api-key header | Verify key in dashboard, check header name |
| 403 | Standard key used for master-only endpoint | Generate master API key |
| 422 | Bad request body | Check field names, per_page <= 100, page <= 500 |
| 429 | Rate limit exceeded | Read Retry-After header, implement backoff |
| 500 | Apollo server error | Retry with backoff, check status.apollo.io |
| ECONNREFUSED | Network/firewall | Allow outbound HTTPS to api.apollo.io:443 |
# Test auth (should return is_logged_in: true)
curl -s -H "x-api-key: $APOLLO_API_KEY" \
https://api.apollo.io/api/v1/auth/health | python3 -m json.tool
# Test master key (returns contacts or 403)
curl -s -X POST -H "Content-Type: application/json" -H "x-api-key: $APOLLO_API_KEY" \
-d '{"per_page":1}' https://api.apollo.io/api/v1/contacts/search | python3 -m json.tool
Proceed to apollo-debug-bundle for collecting debug evidence.
Create or update AgentSkills. Use when designing, structuring, or packaging skills with scripts, references, and assets.
Create or update AgentSkills. Use when designing, structuring, or packaging skills with scripts, references, and assets.
Set up and use 1Password CLI (op). Use when installing the CLI, enabling desktop app integration, signing in (single or multi-account), or reading/injecting/running secrets via op.
CLI to manage emails via IMAP/SMTP. Use `himalaya` to list, read, write, reply, forward, search, and organize emails from the terminal. Supports multiple accounts and message composition with MML (MIME Meta Language).
Create or update AgentSkills. Use when designing, structuring, or packaging skills with scripts, references, and assets.
Create or update AgentSkills. Use when designing, structuring, or packaging skills with scripts, references, and assets.
Set up and use 1Password CLI (op). Use when installing the CLI, enabling desktop app integration, signing in (single or multi-account), or reading/injecting/running secrets via op.
CLI to manage emails via IMAP/SMTP. Use `himalaya` to list, read, write, reply, forward, search, and organize emails from the terminal. Supports multiple accounts and message composition with MML (MIME Meta Language).